Are the permits expensive?
If they didn't bother trying and are whining now, they are exactly the sort of blight on the public face of Christianity that we need to avoid. What about being hospitable to your neighbors as well as visitors to your home? If they can't show this is specifically targeted against Christians then they ought to be apologizing for the disruption and annoyance they've caused.
>>Are the permits expensive?<<
What part of the FIRST AMENDMENT do you not understand?
Your screenname is certainly a misnomer.
Are you insane?... these people are simple holding Christian Bible study sessions in their home.
Either this statute is being interpreted much too broadly or it’s patently unconstitutional.
From the article it looks like they never bothered to apply for a permit, even after being told about the need for one in May. They claim there is no loud singing/music which ought to make it easy to get the permit, I would think.
Sorry, but as I Christian I have much worse forms of harassment and persecution to worry about then someone whining "How dare they..." after they completely fail to follow simple rules and show thoughtfulness to others.
Are the permits expensive?<<
You obviously have NO UNDERSTANDING of history and why the American Revolution was fought, and precisely why we have the First Amendment.
In colonial days, you would have been a loyal British subject.
“Did they try to get a permit and were denied for specious reasons?
Are the permits expensive? “
From the posting:
*** A statement from the Pacific Justice Institute, which is defending the couple in a lawsuit against the city, said Chuck Fromm was also told regular gatherings of three or more people require a conditional use permit, which can be costly and difficult to obtain. ***
You seem to be taking the side of: “The rules are the rules”. Sometimes rules are wrong.
I bet if they were having regular sex parties drawing 50 people, the commies would leave them alone.
A Permit for free speech? A permit to permit the free exercise of religion? WTF?
Philippe I of Spain and Louis XIV thought they could eradicate them but they were wrong.
So, in my kind of country the GOVERNMENT has no authority to determine what is or is not religious ~ none at all. Should be a death penalty for bureaucrats acting on behalf of the state claiming such authority.
And, in your country, which is where?
Free speech, free exercise of religion, free association, especially in your own home.
No permit required!
Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I agree. This is a home, not a church or business. I wouldn't like it if my neighbors had 50 bikers over every Saturday either.
Seems they are in violation of a city code. Here's an example. You can have a garage sale, you can even have a couple a year, but at least around here you can't do it too often or they make you get a permit. No one wants to live next door to a perpetual yard sale. I thinks its perfectly reasonable.
Excuse me? So you actually think it is okay for a city, state or federal government to require people to get permits before having people over to your house? In fact, according to the article, "A statement from the Pacific Justice Institute, which is defending the couple in a lawsuit against the city, said Chuck Fromm was also told regular gatherings of three or more people require a conditional use permit, which can be costly and difficult to obtain." Three people? Good grief!
What about being hospitable to your neighbors as well as visitors to your home?
As stated in the article, "According to the Dispatch, the Fromms live in a neighborhood with large homes and have a corral, barn, pool and huge back lawn on their property, so parking and noise aren’t a problem."
It appears that this whole thing came about because of one person complaining. If you've never had a cranky neighbor that complained about everything everyone in the neighborhood does, then you are fortunate.
I can't believe someone on FR actually thinks it is okay that a city require permits if you want to host people in your own home.
“If they didn’t bother trying and are whining now, they are exactly the sort of blight on the public face of Christianity that we need to avoid.”
Your comment is total BS!
Since when did our constitution require that citizens of this country require a permit to gather amongst themselves to study the bible?
You don't get it do you?